CONCERNS about the future of a unit at Thurrock's community hospital and the conditions patients are enduring at its replacement in Brentwood have only been partially answered by the Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership which runs hospital services in the area.

Thurrock Nub News was contacted by concerned residents and staff who fear Covid-19 is being used as a 'smokescreen' by the Trust to bring in cutbacks to care, impacting on the range of service available to patients from Thurrock.

Citing issues surrounding Covid-19 as the reason, the hospitals trust recently moved patients from the Mayfield Unit at the Thurrock Community Hospital on Long Lane to Brentwood.

As a post-operative care facility, Mayfield was refurbished in 2017 to meet the needs of adults - including those with dementia – and reduce the length of stay in an acute hospital, and support people to return home or to a local place of care.

It was geared to 'look after Thurrock people – in Thurrock.' At the time of the refurbishment Thurrock Clincical Commission Group's Accountable Officer, Mandy Ansell said: "We are delighted to celebrate this new facility which enables many Thurrock patients to benefit from care closer to home, relieving pressure on beds at acute hospitals.

"This is a really first class unit and forms one strand of our bid to improve health and care experience for people in Thurrock under our local offer - For Thurrock in Thurrock."

Not – it seems – any longer.

Staff at the unit, who have damned its replacement in Brentwood, say they have been briefed that the unit is to be changed to a stroke rehabilitation unit, meaning there will be no post-operative care in the borough and patients and their families will have to travel to Brentwood or even further afield.

And there is serious concern by nursing staff about the level of care currently being offered.

We were told: "The patients' mental health is now being compromised and the Brentwood unit is not conducive to rehabilitation.

"There are 12 patients at Brentwood in what amounts to windowless cupboards with no bathing or showering facilities. Patients are in appalling conditions while a perfectly good ward, fit for purpose stands empty at Long Lane. It is outrageous.

"And if a non-return to Mayfield is on the agenda then Thurrock has lost its only rehab facility."

Thurrock Nub News asked the Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership – which has been damned only today in a CQC report criticising the lack of a culture where staff can bring forward concerns – about the situation at Mayfield and the level of care being offered at Brentwood.

Concerns about Brentwood were not answered as a spokesperson said: "The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges across our health and care system.

"Unfortunately the pandemic is not over so the temporary changes we have put in will continue to play an important part of our collective response to the on-going outbreak, both as we balance how to safely restart the delivery of services as well as prepare for the demands that the winter period will place upon us.

"As always our priority is the health and well-being of our patients and residents".